Sunderland Airshow is off to a flying start

Plane enthusiasts will flock to Sunderland for what is sure to be an amazing weeked at this year's Sunderland International Airshow

The Royal Air Force Tucano Display Team arrive in the region to promote Sunderland Airshow

Thousands of spectators will turn their eyes skywards for this year’s Sunderland’s International Airshow.

Plane enthusiasts will flock to the coastline at Roker and Seaburn to see the largest free airshow in Europe.

The event, now in its 25th year, will start in style on July 26 with spectacular launch party at Cliffe Park including live music from the band of HM Royal Marines Scotland and performances from local tribute band Re-Take That.

Flight displays come courtesy of the Royal Air Force Acrobatic Team, the Red Arrows and the RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft. And the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) will fly in tribute to the aviators of the Second World War.

The flying displays will conclude with an enchanting night flight by the SWIP Twister Display Team.

Sunderland’s skyline will then explode with colour as glittering fireworks light up the night and bring to a close what promises to be a memorable evening.

The Red Arrows will display again the following day, opening the show at 1pm followed by a programme of Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and civilian flying displays.

The RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team will be dropping in on both days and civilian displays will include the SWIP Twister Display Team, the amazing daredevil Breitling Wingwalkers, the stunning Hawker Hunter aircraft ‘Miss Demeanour’ and the beautiful flying boat, the Catalina.

This year one of the more fascinating aircraft flying at the show is the Royal Navy Historic Flight’s (RNHF) Fairey Swordfish MkII.

It is nicknamed the ‘Stringbag’, not just because it was a biplane with many supporting struts and retaining wires, but because just as with a string bag, it could carrying pretty much anything you wanted it to. In operation they could carry an 18-inch torpedo (731kg) or a 681kg mine, bombs, four depth charges and they also had racks under the wings for eight 3-inch rockets.

Airshow director Sue Stanhope said: “In this year that we are remembering the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic, it is fitting that we have an aircraft that was actually involved.”